Shaft coupling



Aug. 6, 1940. E. v. KELPSCH SHAFT COUPLING Filed Sept. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Inventor Edmund VKeZ aSc/p A tiomeys Aug. 6, 1940. E. V.'KELPSCH 2210,811

' SHAFT" COUPLING Filed sept. 16, 19:59 Z Sheets-Sheet 2 I/ l 1 z/ Inventor Patented Aug. 6, 1940 A UNITED STATES PATENT-I OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to shaft couplings, and the object of the invention is to provide a shaft coupling that will positively lock itself to a shaft without the use of set screws or clamp bolts commonly used, and also to provide a means of removing the coupling at will without the use of pullers or the necessity of driving or pressing the coupling from the shaft.

The invention together with its objects and lo advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View showing the application of the invention.

15 Figure 2 is a sectional View through one of the coupling elements mounted'on one end of one of the shafts to be coupled together.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the coupling element loose on the shaft end.

20 Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views, taken substantially on the lines 4-4 and 5--5 respectively of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of an end of a shaft to be coupled and 25 Figure 7 is an elevatlonal view of a split retainer ring forming part of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that the improved coupling comprises a pair of complemental, and substantially identi- 30 cal coupling elements indicated by reference numerals 5 and 6 respectively.

Each of the coupling elements include a sleeve 7 provided at one end thereof with an apertured flange 8 through the medium of which and bolts 35 9 the flanged ends of the sleeves I of the coupling elements 5 and 6 are secured together.

The sleeve I is provided with a conical bore II] to accommodate the conical end II of one of the shafts I2 to be coupled together..

40 As shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 the sleeve I is provided with an internal way I3 complementing a. way I4 provided in the end II of a shaft I2 to accommodate a key I5 through the medium of which the sleeve I is held on the shaft end against 5 rotative movement relative thereto.

Also the sleeve I is provided with a circumferentially reducedexternally threaded end portion I6 presenting intermediate the end of the sleeve a shoulder I I.

50 Cooperable with the sleeve I is a collar I8 that is internally threaded complemental to the thread of the sleeve section or portion I6 for threaded engagement therewith as shown in the drawings.

55 At at one end thereof the collar I8 is provided with an internal flange I9 that is accommodated,

as shown, about the shaft I2 between a pair of circumferential grooves 20, 2I provided in the shaft.

Each of the grooves 20, 2| is designed to ac- 5 commodate atwo-part externally grooved collar 22 that is secured within its groove 20, or 2I, as the case may be on the shaft I2 through the medium of a split wire retaining ring 23.

Also threadedly accommodated on the portion 10 I5 of the sleeve I and the collar I8 is a nut 24.

To tighten the coupling 5 or I5, as the case may be, on a shaft end I2 the parts of the coupling are assembled and arranged on the shaft in an obvious manner and as shown in Fig. 3. The operator then threads the collar I8 home on a threaded end I6 of the sleeve 1 in a manner to obviously draw-the sleeve 1 inwardly along the tapered end II of the shaft I2 to substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. The nut 24 is then threaded home into abutting engagement with the collar I8 as shown in Fig. 2 whereupon the sleeve '1 is secured rigidly on ,the end II of the shaft I 2 so as to turn therewith.

With the couplings 5 and 6 thus secured on the 25 ends of the respective shafts I2 the flange ends 8 of the couplings are brought into intimate contact, and at said ends the sleeves I are then bolted together through the medium of the bolts 9 thus completing, in a quick and efficient manner the coupling of the ends II of the respective shafts I2 together.

When it is desired to loosen a coupling 5 or 6, as the case may be, relative to the end II of a shaft I2 the collar I8 is threaded in a retrograde or reverse manner and by reason of the engagement of the flange I9 of the collar with the outermost ring 22 the end I I of the shaft will be caused to move outwardly with respect to the bore of the sleeve I, and with the lock nut 24 threaded for- .wardly to substantially the position shown in Fig.

6, and collar I 8 entirely disengaged from the sleeve I, the end II of the shaft may be readily .withdrawn from the bore of the sleeve.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a shaft coupling the complemental parts of which may be readily secured on the ends of the respective shafts to be coupled together, and said complemental coupling elements readily loosened with respect to the associated shaft ends for removal therefrom or for any other purpose desired.

It is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, utility, and function of the invention will be had without any further detailed description thereof; and it will be further underkey engaging in said complemental ways and coacting therewith to secure the sleeve and shaft against relative rotative movement, said coupling sleeve having a threaded end portion, a collar disposed circumjacent said shaft and having internal threads complementing the threads of said sleeve, and said collar being provided with an internal flange, and ring members removably mounted on the shaft and seated in the grooves thereof at opposite sides of said flange.

EDMUND V. KELPSCH. 

